Portret van Frederik, prins der Nederlanden 1816 - 1834

This portrait of Prince Frederik of the Netherlands was made using a printmaking technique - probably etching or engraving, though it is difficult to tell for sure. This was an established method for creating reproducible images, and therefore disseminating them widely. Consider how this material consideration – printmaking – influences the image itself. The medium allows for fine, controlled lines, which would have been essential to depict the Prince's likeness and status accurately. Look closely and you can see the subtle variations in tone, created by densely packed lines of varying thicknesses, a labor intensive and highly skilled method. The choice of printmaking also speaks to a desire for wider circulation, thus playing a role in shaping his public persona, and aligning it with the wider social issues of class and power. By understanding how this print was made, we can see how the technologies of production are connected to wider social forces. It prompts us to reconsider the distinctions between fine art and other creative practices.